Develop Canada's National Parks system, as well as manage and expand National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries.

What success looks like

Terrestrial areas and inland water are conserved through networks of protected areas.

Government's narrative on progress

The Government of Canada continues to work to conserve and connect terrestrial areas. A comprehensive plan is being developed to conserve at least 17% of terrestrial areas and inland water through networks of protected and conserved areas by 2020. As announced in Budget 2018, to support Canada’s biodiversity and protect species at risk, the Government of Canada is making historic investments totaling $1.3 billion over five years, one of the most significant investments in nature conservation in Canadian history. This investment will contribute $500 million from the federal government to create a new $1 billion Nature Fund in partnership with corporate, not?for-profit, provincial, territorial and other partners. In collaboration with partners, the Nature Fund will make it possible to secure private land, support provincial and territorial species protection efforts, and help build Indigenous capacity to conserve land and species, for the benefit of current and future generations. In February 2019, the Pathway to Canada Target 1 initiative, co-chaired by the Government of Canada, released One with Nature: A Renewed Approach to Land and Freshwater Conservation in Canada, which presents pan-Canadian opportunities jointly developed by federal, provincial and territorial governments to support progress towards achieving the terrestrial and inland water components of Canada Target 1 (the first of Canada’s 19 biodiversity goals and targets). The One with Nature report was informed by recommendations from a National Advisory Panel and an Indigenous Circle of Experts. Work on expanding the system of National Parks includes the proposed Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve. Negotiations with the government of the Northwest Territories, Lutsël K’e Dene First Nation and Northwest Territory Métis Nation are close to completion. Negotiations between the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia and the Syilx/Okanagan Nation are actively underway on a proposed national park reserve in the South Okanagan, and Parks Canada has opened a public and stakeholder consultation on this proposal. Parks Canada has contacted the Manitoba government to re-engage on a proposed national park in the Manitoba Lowlands. As part of the expansion of National Wildlife Areas (NWA) and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, the government is working closely with Indigenous peoples, Provinces, Territories, and stakeholders to secure new protected areas by the end of 2020. The Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area which was formally designated a NWA in June 2018 will conserve 1.2 million hectares for the benefit of sea birds in the Pacific Ocean. Important Prairie Habitat in South West Saskatchewan will be conserved with the transfer of the Govenlock Community Pasture to Environment and Climate Change Canada in 2019. In October 2018, the Government of Canada jointly announced, with the Dehcho First Nation and the Tlicho government, the signing of an establishment agreement for the Edéhzhíe National Wildlife Area in the Northwest Territories, which will protect over 1.4 million hectares of habitat for boreal caribou. Environment and Climate Change Canada is now working to develop federal regulations to enact establishment. It has also announced $5.2 million over 5 years in contribution funding to support establishment and management of the area.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.